Princess Cruises Ultimate Ship Tour

Best Behind the Scenes Tour of a Cruise Ship

Mar 25, 2009
Renee Ruggero

: Diamond Princess - Princess Cruises

On most Princess Cruises' vessels, passengers can visit the ship's bridge, laundry, engine control room, medical center, galley, and more. But for $150, is it worth it?

When Princess Cruises launched the Ruby Princess in November 2008, it introduced the Ultimate Ship Tour. This unique behind the scenes tour provides an opportunity for a limited number of guests to get an inside look at what goes into operating a cruise ship. Here is what to expect from the three-hour tour.

Princess Cruises Behind the Scenes Cruise Ship Tour

Backstage Tour of the Theater - See the costumes used in the production shows and meet some of the cast and dancers.

Exclusive Galley Tour - Meet the Executive Chef and enjoy French Champagne and canapes during a tour of the galley. Also get an opportunity to visit the food storage areas on the ship.

Engine Control Room - Although there is no tour of the engine room, the group visits the engine control room and meets the Chief Technical Officer. Learn how sea water is desalinated, garbage is incinerated, and how power is generated.

Print shop - Meet the ship’s printer and see where the onboard newspaper is printed.

Photo Laboratory - Meet the photo manager and learn how the ship manages all the pictures that are taken every day.

Medical Center - Meet the ship’s doctor in the medical center and get to see the intensive care unit, digital x-ray machines, treatment rooms, pharmacy, and the ship’s morgue.

Main Laundry - Meet the laundry master and learn how tons of linens are washed daily and see the machine that specially folds the towels and sheets.

Funnel - Join the Staff Captain and climb up two sets of ladders to the upper most deck and look inside the ship’s funnel. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the ship and the sea from this unique vantage point.

Bridge Tour - The tour concludes on the bridge where passengers get to meet the Captain and learn about the navigational equipment and safety systems. Enjoy drinks and canapés and have a chance to pose with the Captain for pictures.

How to Book the Princess Cruises Ultimate Ship Tour

Interested passengers need to make a reservation for this tour at the passenger services desk as soon as they get on the ship. Since the number of participants is limited to 12 guests per tour (only one tour per cruise), the spaces may fill up quickly. The tour will be charged to the passenger’s shipboard account.

Is the Ultimate Ship Tour Worth $150?

Apart from getting to visit areas of the ship that are normally off limits to passengers, there are plenty of complimentary souvenirs, too. Participants of the tour receive a luxurious bath robe (usually reserved for suite passengers). Other freebies include personalized stationary, an official Princess Cruises chef’s jacket, and a framed picture with the Captain.

Although the Ultimate Ship Tour is an extra cost for passengers on Princess Cruises' ships, other cruise lines are offering their own behind the scenes ship tours for free. The catch is that passengers need to belong to the cruise line’s loyalty program with a minimum of six cruises to their name in order to participate.